Scout is Looking for his Furever Family

by pat

Scout is a happy, silly puppy in an adult dog’s body. He is a diamond in the rough that sparkles more every day. Scout recently arrived in Maryland from China. We have no idea what Scout’s previous life was like, but what we do know now is that Scout is truly enjoying the comforts of being part of a family- curling up on the sofa or a comfy bed, lots and lots of food and toys, playtime with other dogs and, most of all, people to give him the love he has been craving.

Gender: Neutered male

Age: approximately 8 years old

Weight: 63 lbs., needs to gain some weight

Health: Scout’s ears were treated for an infection. He was dewormed. The vet believes Scout has a mild heart murmur. At this point, he said it is just something to be aware of. He has had his rabies and distemper vaccines. He is heartworm negative. He is microchipped.

Personality: Scout has a larger than life personality. He is a professional snuggler. Scout loves to be curled up with his people and will follow wherever they go. For that reason, he would like a home where he can be on furniture to be close and cozy- he thinks he is a lap dog. He also settles down easily on a nearby dog bed or the floor. Scout loves to play with his toys. He is generally calm and easy going in the house. He may bark to let you know his opinion-especially if it involves food. He occasionally counter surfs and loves to steal laundry- he never harms it, just likes to have something that smells like his people. To make sure he does not get into anything that would not be safe for him, he is crated when he is home alone-he can be a bit mischievous. (Scout can climb/jump baby gates and will scratch at doors.) He goes easily into his crate with a treat, but he is never left crated for long periods. Ultimately, the goal is for Scout to be comfortable with free roam of the house- once he has learned not to take/chew inappropriate items. Scout will bolt through doors, so an adopter would need to be very careful with outside doors. He is happy and relaxed meeting strangers-if he is excited, he may jump up to hug hello, but he is working on that. Scout can be mouthy when excited, but this is rare. He is filled with exuberant love and a happy dash of mischief.

Favorite Toys/Games: Scout loves his stuffed animals, chew toys, Kongs and playing Tug of War. Scout loves tennis balls, but while he is a retriever, he is not a returner. He also loves to run outside and play with other dogs.

Behavior in Car: Scout loves to go for car rides- he jumps right in. I do recommend a harness and a tether, or he will try to help you drive.

Interaction with dogs: Scout is living with 3 other dogs. He loves to play and run with them. He is very good at reading their energy and has done extremely well with every dog he has met. He is happy and can get excited, but he does not have a mean bone in his body. He is the sweetest, happiest dog. He does not like to be home without his people, so he would like a friendly dog sibling to keep him company and who would like to play with him and share toys.

Interaction with cats: Foster home has no cats. He did meet a friend’s cat and was very curious.

Interaction with children: Scout loves people and getting attention. He has been wonderful with the children in the house. However, because of his lack of training and food insecurity, he needs a home with no children or older children. Scout can be pushy and will jump and try to grab food (or anything if he thinks it might be food) out of hands. As he begins to see food is a constant, and with consistent routines and training, Scout is improving but this behavior can be a bit overwhelming for younger children.

Food and Treats: Scout LOVES food- whatever it is- he wants it. He has learned to sit for treats and take them gently. Scout is working on gaining weight and food is his obsession right now. As he gets to a healthy weight and sees that food is constant, he is settling down, but meals are his happiest time of the day.

Fence requirements: Scout would do best in a home with a fenced yard. Scout may be 8, but he is making up for lost time. He loves to run and do zoomies in the yard. He loves to follow scents and sounds.

People requirements: Scout will be your shadow. Scout needs a home where people are home as much as possible. He does not like to be alone. He just wants to be with his people. He settles down quietly and will give you space to work or do whatever you need to do- he just wants to be nearby.

Leash manners: Scout loves going for walks. He should be walked with a harness, not a collar. Overall, he walks well on a leash, but when he gets excited, he can pull and he is strong.

Housetrained: Scout has not had any accidents since his first day in foster. He does not ask to go out, but chooses to follow the routine of the other dogs, or if one of them asks to go out-he is more than happy to join them.

Exercise Requirements: Scout may be an older dog, but no one remembered to tell him. He would love a home where he gets walks as well as time to hang out in the yard. He is not a high energy dog, but does get bursts of excitement where he likes to play or run with other dogs- he is just overflowing with happiness and excitement. He may be 8 years old, but he is finally getting his chance to act like a goofy puppy.